HOW ALABAMA VOTED IN WASHINGTON

Recent Senate Votes

Cloture on the Nomination of Richard Cordray to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection - Vote Rejected (53-45, 1 Present, 1 Not Voting) The Senate failed to reach the sixty votes needed to move forward on the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB, which was created by the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul, is responsible for overseeing financial products like home loans and credit cards. Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Motion to Proceed; Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 - Vote Rejected (50-48, 2 Not Voting) The Senate rejected a motion to move forward on this Democratic proposal to reduce the employee share of the payroll tax from 4.2 to 3.1 percent for 2012. The employer share would stay at 6.2 percent. The payroll tax funds the Social Security trust fund. A law passed in December 2010 is set to expire at the end of 2011 that reduced the employee share from 6.2 to 4.2 percent. Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Motion to Proceed; Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act - Vote Rejected (22-76, 2 Not Voting) The Senate rejected a motion to move forward on this Republican proposal to freeze the employee share of the payroll tax at 4.2 percent. The proposal offsets the cost by freezing federal pay and reducing the federal workforce by attrition. Sen. Richard Shelby voted NO......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Jeff Sessions voted NO......send e-mail or see bio

Recent House Votes

Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2011 - Vote Passed (241-184, 8 Not Voting) This bill would require congressional approval of federal regulations that are expected to cost the economy $100 million or more or have a significant effect on consumer prices. Currently, regulations take effect unless both Congress and the president approve a resolution disapproving of them. The White House opposes the bill. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 - Vote Passed (268-150, 15 Not Voting) This House-passed bill would prevent the EPA from revising air standards concerning dust from farm operations for one year. The Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. The White House has also issued a veto threat. Rep. Mo Brooks voted YES......send e-mail or see bio